Railroad car wall construction



Feb. 13, 1940. K F, NYSTROM 2,190,334

RAILROAD CAR WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 18, 19.3 9 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IFeb. 13, 1940. K, F, NYSTROM 2,190,334

RAILROAD CAR WALL GONSTRUCT I ON Filed Feb. 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imfeno'n 'jf orne Patented Feb. 13, 1940.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates more particularly to the side frame construction of railroad passenger cars, namely to cars whose side frames and walls are composed of steel sections or elements arranged in intimate reenforcing relation with each other-.to provide a very rigid car adapted to withstand the usual strains and stresses to which such cars are subjected.

The object of the invention is the provision of an all-steel side frame construction wherein the outer side wall sheets and the metallic side wall posts are arranged in interengaging relation and the sheets and posts formed to permit them to be welded together into a unitary streamline structure involving longitudinally disposed beam-like sections adapted to resist impacts and any tendency to buckle, while at the same time providing greater lightness especially desirable in high speed train construction.

The invention also has for its object the provision of a car side frame which may be more readily formed and assembled than is the case with railroad passenger cars as heretofore constructed.

The above enumerated objects and others, as well as the advantages inherent in the invention, will all be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of one end of a car side wall structure involving my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the y line 3-3 of Figure 2 as viewed by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the intermediate sheet of the car side wall with portions of the vertical posts shown associated therewith.

My invention relates more especially to the side frame and wall construction of steel railroad passenger cars composed of steel-sheets or plates and metal posts which permit all of the elements to be welded together into a unitary structure whereby the 4car side walls will be provided with longitudinally extending beam forming portions or continuous reenforcing ribs from end to end of the car adapted to withstand the impacts and strains to which such cars are subjected. The invention also contemplates, in keeping with the requirement of lightness in fast moving trains, a minimum num- `ber of elements commensurate with the Size I the car.

The invention more specifically stated relates to the formation of one of the side wall sheets and the vertical side posts, in association with the adjacent side wall sheets, all constructed and arranged to permit the sheets and side posts 5 to be welded together into a unitary structure adapted to be put into place and united with the car side sills, car roof and end walls.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an adaptation of my invention to an all steel type of railroad passenger car; only one end of a car side wall being shown in Figure 1, which is deemed suillcient to disclose the invention; it being understood that the improved structure preferably extends throughout the length of the car and is of similar construction throughout.

The side frame as illustrated comprises the top or letter-board sheet I0, lower rside sheet II, intermediate sheet I2 and the vertical side posts I3, all integrally united as hereinafter described.

' 'Ihe top or letter-board sheet I0 along its upper longitudinal edge is connected with the car-roof forming elements; while the lower longitudinal edge of the lower side sheet II is disposed about the car side sill Il and secured thereto. 26 These two side sheets I0 and II are preferably provided with the longitudinally extending outwardly bowed corrugations I5, disposed throughout the lengths of the sheets and of the Yconstruction disclosed in my copending application 30 Serial Number 144,294 issued as Patent No. 2,150.- 89'7, March 21, 1939. The sheets I0 and II are formed to extend continuously from end to end of the car.

The intermediate sheet I2, a portion whereof is shown in Figure 4, also extends from end tc end of the car; being preferably formed of separate sections of comparative length, for example 10'-41/", a length suflicient to accommodate three window-openings, as shown at I6 in Figure iii 1 and the ends of the respective sections buttvwelded together into a continuous car-length sheet.

Each section of the intermediate sheet I2 consists of the main or body portion I'l, of width 45 greater than the height of the.A window-openings I6 which are to be cut therein, and the horizontally disposed iianges I8, yI8 extending throughout the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the sections. The flanges I8 are ar- 50 ranged on what may be termed theinside of the sheet and terminate in vertically disposed flanges I9; the flanges I9 at top and bottom being disposed in opposite directions, see Figures 2 and 4.

The horizontal flanges I8 are of comparative 55 width and are provided with longitudinally spaced apart slots as at 20, see Figure 4, for the purpose of receiving the vertical side posts I3; the slots being preferably formed to match the cross-sectional conflguration oi' the car side-posts I3.

The intermediate sheet unit I2 is also preferably provided with outwardly bowed corrugations I5 arranged in spaced relation between the top and bottom longitudinal edges of the unit I2; the corrugations being similar to those in the top or letterboard sheet I0 and the bottom sheet II, extending lengthwise of the car side wall.

With the window-openings arranged in the intermediate sheet I2 between its top and bottom longitudinal edges. it is apparent that the angular flanges of the sheet extend continuously from end to end of the sheet both above and beneath the windows and thus provide beam-sections throughout the car side wall, which, in conjunction with the outer corrugations l5, provide a rigid side wall section.

In the construction of 'the side wall, sheets of suitable lengths to constitute, respectively, the top or letter board and the lower side sheet are welded together in continuous lengths extending full length of the car body, as indicated at 2I in Figure 1, The intermediate sheet I2, in order to facilitate manipulation, is preferably composed of separate sections or blanks of lengths suilicient to receive a number of window-openings and parts of a window-opening as shown for illustration in Figure 1 where one section oi the intermediate sheet I2 extends from the end of the car body to the point indicated at 22 where it abuts the end of the next section and is secured or welded thereto and the joint preferably provided on the insides of `the sections with the splice plates shown in dotted lines at 23 in Figure l and in full lines at the right in Figure 4 and .these `plates welded to the ends of the adjacent sections constituting the intermediate pan-like sheet or of window-opening unit I2.

The sections which are to constitute the intermediate sheet after being provided along their longitudinal edges with a suitable number of slots of shape matching the cross-sectional contour of the posts I3-which may be of any suitable shape, preferably of the Z-shape cross-section lshownand the marginal edges with the slots bent into the angular anges shown, then have the vertical side posts I3 threaded through the slots' suiliciently to properly locate the intermediate sheet in its position, with the posts extending beyond the longitudinal edges of the intermediate sheet to extend rearward of the top or letter-board sheet I0 and lower side sheet Il and permit the ends of the side posts'to be welded or otherwise firmly secured to the top rail 24 and to the side sill I4 after the side wall unit frame is put into position.

After the posts I3 have been properly threaded through the slots 20 in both flanges I8 of the intermediate sheet I2, the adjacent anges of the posts I3 are then spot welded to the main body I1 of the intermediate sheet and the horizontal flanges I8 and vertical flanges I9 are welded to the posts I3 with the vertical anges overlapping and arranged against the inner laterally disposed portions or iianges of the posts and welded thereto, thus providing an integral intermediate side wall unit which forms a sub-assembly of the final side frame assembly.

After the posts have been properly threaded through the slots and welded as described, the desired window-openings are then laid out in this pan-like sheet` or intermediate unit and the window-openings cut out by appropriate means and the sub-assemblies then placed in position between the letter-board sheet and lower side sheet and in proper sequence relative to the carbody, with matching ends, and with the exposed ends of the posts in lapping relation with the letter-board and lower side sheets and the posts spot welded to the last mentioned sheets. The abutting joints in the horizontal and vertical anges of the pan or intermediate sheet are then securely arc welded together and the overlapping portions of the letter-board, intermediate and lower side sheets welded together. The assembled side irame unit is then applied to the car body and secured to the adjacent portions of the car body.

As Vis apparent from the drawings and the foregoing description, a continuous longitudinal beam-like element, both above and below the windows, is provided consisting of horizontally and vertically disposed portions or anges which aiords the requisite lateral stiffness for the side frame assembly. Furthermore, by providing the slots in the iianges as described, `I permit the use of single piece side posts and obviatejoints in the individual side posts and consequently obtain a very rigid car side frame construction.

It will be understood, of course, that any suitable length of sections may be employed to constitute the respective sheets III., II and I2 commensurate with the car, lgth the intermediate sheet sections, forI co encein handling, being shown of lengt s ``ient to receive two'complete window-openings and one-half or portion of a third window-opening, as -disclosed in Figure 1; the length and number of sheet-sections, however, may vary in keeping with the vcar length.

After the kcomplete side frame unit has been put into place on the car side, the car inside wall sheets 25 with intervening insulation 26, as shown,

in Figure 2, is then applied and suitably secured in place. The exempliflcation chosen to illustrate my invention is believed to be its best embodiment but structural modiiications are possible and may be made Without, however, 4departing from the spirit of my invention as dened by the appended claims. Y

What I claim is:

1. In a railroad car construction, a side frame comprising longitudinally extending letter-board, intermediate and lower side metal sheets; the intermediate sheet being provided with longitudinally spaced window-openings and its upper and lower longitudinal edges bent inwardly to provide horizontally disposed portions terminating in vertically extending anges, said horizontal portions at longitudinally spaced points beingl provided with closed endedslots;` and vertically disposed posts extending through said slots and intimately secured to said horizontal portions, vertical flanges and to the inner sides of the main portions of the letter-board, intermediate `and lower side sheets.

2. In a railroad car construction, in combination with spaced apart vertical posts an intermediate sheet disposed lengthwise and provided with window-openings and with laterally disposed portions extending lengthwise of said sheet above and below the window-open-Vv ings, said portions being provided with openings shaped'to match the cross-sectional coniiguration of said posts which are threaded through said openings, the body of the sheet having outof the cark wardly disposed portions extending throughout the length ofthe sheet; the posts being welded to the main body o! the sheet and to said laterally disposed portions of the sheet.

3. In a railroad car side frame construction, an intermediate window-opening sheet metal section having longitudinally extending and outwardly disposed reenforcing surfaces .and extending lengthwise of the car-side, the upper and the lower longitudinal marginal portions being bent horizontally inward and then vertically to constitute a longitudinally extending beam both above and below the window-openings, with the horizontal top and bottom marginal portions provided at longitudinally spaced points with closed ended slots; and vertical metal posts disposed through said slots and integrally united with said horizontal and vertical portions oi.' said sheet.

4. In a railroad car side frame, an integral car length window unit composed of longitudinally disposed metallic sheets arranged in endto-end. abutting relation and welded together, said sheets being provided with window-openings and being formed of pan-shape cross-section with the top and bottom marginal edges disposed inwardly and provided with Z-shapeopenings and terminating in vertical anges; and vertically disposedposts of Z-shape cross-section threaded through said openings and welded to the marginal edges and vertical anges of the sheets.

KARL F. NYSTROM. 

